FAO DESERT LOCUST BULLETIN NO. 251 (issued 7 September 1999)
GENERAL SITUATION DURING AUGUST 1999
FORECAST UNTIL MID-OCTOBER 1999
1. SUMMARY
The Desert Locust situation remained calm during August even though conditions are favourable in the summer breeding areas. Only low numbers of solitary locusts were reported in parts of the Sahel of West Africa and Sudan, northern Somalia and Yemen where they are expected to mature and breed on a small scale. Low numbers of adults reported along the Indo-Pakistan border are maturing and limited breeding is expected. Even if the summer rains continue, no significant developments are expected due to the extremely low numbers of locusts currently reported.
Western Region. Good, and in some places unusually heavy, rains fell in the Sahel. As a result, conditions were favourable in Mauritania, southern Tamesna and the majority of the wadis of the Adrar des Iforas in Mali and in Aïr in Niger. Although no locusts were reported from any country in the Region, small scale breeding may occur. No significant developments are expected.
Central Region. As a result of good to unusually heavy rainfall, vegetation is green and conditions are suitable for breeding in the interior of Sudan, the Railway area of Ethiopia, the escarpment of northern Somalia, the interior of Yemen and on the southern Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. Conditions remained dry in Egypt. No breeding was reported during August and only a low numbers of adults were present in parts of northern Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Although small scale breeding is likely to occur, no significant developments are expected.
Eastern Region. Scattered maturing adults at low densities were present in a few places of the Tharparkar Desert, in Pakistan, and in Rajasthan, in India, where conditions were suitable for breeding. In Iran, very low numbers of mature adults were seen on the southeastern coastal plains.
2. WEATHER & ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN AUGUST 1999
Unusually heavy rains fell along the Red Sea coast of the Saudi Arabia, in Rajasthan of India and in parts of Sahel of West Africa and Sudan. Vegetation is green or becoming green. Breeding conditions have improved in all the areas of recent rain.